Welcome to the Victory Garden Network
Student Leadership
WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU GROW!
Created by college students, for college students the Student Leadership Council Internship provides a unique opportunity for peer-to-peer development. As a student intern you will have the opportunity to lead a project, start to finish, while we provide the resources and support necessary to succeed. Our unique program doesn’t just help you create something tangible, such as a home garden. It helps develop invaluable skills you can carry with you into the workforce.
VG NET MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Our Student Leadership Council Internship pairs mentors and mentees in a mutually beneficial partnership. The experienced mentor provides guidance and feedback while facilitating the personal growth and development of a less experienced mentee. The mentee benefits from the skill of the mentor, while taking an active role in his or her own learning and development. Both participants make huge strides in developing leadership, partnership, communication, and collaboration skills. The Victory Garden program grows strong communities, strong relationships, and strong individuals!
EMPLOYERS DESIRE SOFT SKILLS IN NEW HIRES
Our program to help you cultivate soft skills that you can continue to apply wherever your ambitions are rooted. We’re not just building garden beds, we’re building job-ready graduates and the leaders of tomorrow!
“When companies are assessing job candidates, they’re looking for the best of both worlds: someone who is not only proficient in a particular function, but also has the right personality,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. “Along with responsibilities, it’s important to highlight soft skills that can give employers an idea of how quickly you can adapt and solve problems, whether you can be relied on to follow through and how effectively you can lead and motivate others.”
Laszlo Bock, the Senior Vice President of people operations for Google said, “…in an age when innovation is increasingly a group endeavor, we also care about a lot of soft skills — leadership, humility, collaboration, adaptability and loving to learn and re-learn.”
The Soft Skills Our Internship Helps Promote
1. Brag about yourslef (Create your profile)
Create your profile. This will be your face on our website and a valuable tool for attracting sponsors, volunteers, and Victory Gardeners.
There are two parts:
1. A personal message from you. Tell about yourself and what you hope to get out of your internship. This is an opportuntiy to convince the community of why your project is worth investing in/being a part of. We want you to make your profile your own but if you need a starting place, check out Kyra's profile.
2. A high quality headshot
Email your complete personal message and headshot to govgnet@gmail.com within 3 business days after start date.
2. Fundraise
Fundraising is an important skill to develop.
There are a number of means of doing this and the more platforms you utilize the greater your fundraising power. We have outlined some of these below but first lets talk about your message:
Your message should be personal. It needs to grab people's attention and hold their interest. Before you even ask volunteers to support your project, talk about the opportunity that this project will be for you, the ways you expect to grow etc. Include the most compelling parts of your profile.
We ask that all interns:
1. Connect with VG Net on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2. Post about your project on Facebook.
3. Use at least two additional media:
-Other social media (Instagram/Twitter)
-Newsletter
-Print letters
All posts/mail should include:
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A description of your project
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A link to gofundme*
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A link to your profile on our website*
*You can find these links by visiting your profile on our website once it is complete.
3. Engage the Community
Work collaboratively with Victory Garden families and volunteers.
One of your goals is to connect with the Victory Garden family and recruit volunteers for your project.
There are a few steps to accomplish this:
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Send an email to the family letting them know how excited you are to lead their home garden.
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Schedule to see do an assessment of their home.
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Send out a short newsletter of your project asking your classmates, friends and others to volunteer for your project.
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Make a list of materials to order for project such as compost, cylinder blocks, seedlings, sign and post for sign.
communication
Communication is not only the ability to share your thoughts and ideas; it also requires skilled listening. According to employers the most desirable candidates exhibit superior oral and listening capabilities, writing proficiency, presentation skills, and teamwork.
“Communications, teamwork, and interpersonal skills are critical—everything we do involves working with other people.” – US tech sector recruiter
Exceptional communication skills are the foundation of every successful enterprise. As a VG Network intern you will strengthen your ability to communicate clearly and effectively as you meet with homeowners, accrue sponsorships, order supplies, organize volunteers, and complete an actual construction project.
5. Be a leader
Presentation proficiency allows you to gather and organize information, perspectives, and experiences and share them in a compelling manner with a broad audience. In this age of social media, presentation applies to both verbal and written communications. Whether you're crafting the perfect e-mail or speaking in front of a board committee, presentation is important!
“Presentation skills are the next competitive advantage. In this era of email, texting and voice mail, true face-to-face communication is becoming a lost art.” – John Fallon, teacher
According to Forbes magazine, eighty-nine percent of employers say they want colleges to place more emphasis on oral and written communication. As a VG Network intern we will support you as you develop your professional communication and presentation skills.
Our program helps students form lasting friendships, develop valuable soft skills, and promote strong, sustainable communities. Contact us to find out how we can help you grow!